Taxidermy
On this page you will find Questions and Answers to your taxidermy needs when you come to hunt with Zulu Afrika Safaris
Where do you recommend I get my taxidermy work done?
At present you can export raw hides and skulls from South Africa, this means you can choose whether you want your trophy taxidermy done in the States or in South Africa. My personal opinion is that you cannot beat the quality of work done by the South African taxidermists on African animals. However, some of the American taxidermist's work is far superior when cats are involved.
Whose taxidermy work is the cheapest?
This is always a bone of contention. Some say you pay for quality and others say you are being ripped off. They also say that the South African way of curing a skin is not as good as the American way. This is not true.
I always give my client's the choice and will make various price lists available and you can make your own choice on where you want your taxidermy work to be done. However, below is an example of some information made available by one of our local taxidermists.
Fantastic savings by having your trophies mounted by a taxidermist in South Africa!
Having your trophies mounted in South Africa saves you money and professionals will mount your prized trophies. They are fully acquainted with not only the characteristics of the various animals but with their anatomical and colouring variations, which can be considerable, depending on the area they are obtained.
What is the waiting period for trophies from South African taxidermists?
Our veterinary regulations stipulate that all skins and horns (raw prep) must dry for a minimum of three months before exportation permits will be issued. All trophies mounted in South Africa will be ready for exportation within 6 - 12 months of delivery to the taxidermist.
When will the taxidermist start working on my trophies?
As with the hunting, most taxidermists require a deposit before they start working on your trophies. After the trophies have been delivered to the taxidermist, they will contact you to request the deposit payment and trophy mounting details. Please make sure that you explain yourself clearly when giving mounting instructions to the taxidermist and for that matter skinning instructions to the professional hunter before the trophy is skinned.
Can I make my own tags?
You cannot mark or identify your trophy enough. What I have found to be very successful are laminated business cards. This should be laminated in such a way that you can punch a hole through the laminating without destroying any of the information on the card. If you are sending your trophies home as raw prep, then contact your taxidermist and ask him for cards before leaving home.
What other information do you require?
Please ask your taxidermist for all his/her freighting details and ports of entry.
